The Sh1 billion fraud case involving controversial preacher and businessman David Kariuki Ngari, popularly known as Gakuyo, continued on Wednesday in a Nairobi court, with fresh testimony shedding light on the inner workings of his real estate and investment empire.
Appearing as the second prosecution witness, Moses Kariuki, a former CEO of Gakuyo Real Estate, told the court that he was in charge of customer relations, digital marketing, and organizing investor site visits. He said that when client complaints became overwhelming, he escalated them to Mr. Ngari, the company’s director.
Kariuki revealed that he joined the firm as a digital marketing executive before rising to the position of CEO. However, mounting pressure from clients demanding refunds and title deeds forced him to resign in 2018. Most of the grievances, he said, came from members of Ekeza Sacco and the Gakuyo Investment Club two entities closely tied to Mr. Ngari.
Testifying before Senior Principal Magistrate Ekhubi, Kariuki stated that while he signed documents on behalf of the director, all strategic decisions were made in consultation with Mr. Ngari. He further disclosed that he lost his house in Thika to Ngari after defaulting on a Sh7 million loan from Ekeza Sacco.
Kariuki partially attributed the financial woes faced by the entities to massive investor withdrawals following Ngari’s 2017 political campaigns, during which negative publicity eroded public confidence. However, he denied any personal animosity or involvement in any scheme to defraud members.
He also clarified that Gakuyo Real Estate, Ekeza Sacco, and the Gakuyo Investment Club initially operated from the same office, but were later separated to promote transparency. Despite the structural changes, all financial matters remained under the control of Mr. Ngari.
The prosecution requested a postponement of the proceedings, citing the unavailability of some witnesses. Magistrate Ekhubi adjourned the case to August 5, 6, and 7, 2025, and directed the prosecution to ensure witness attendance. He also granted a transport reimbursement to a witness, Ndirangu, who traveled from Naivasha to attend the hearing.
